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Madonna speaks out over 'censorship' of Russian band Pussy Riot

Pop legend Madonna, who is in Moscow ahead of a concert, has said that a jail sentence for the three women from the anti-Putin band Pussy Riot would be a tragedy.

Weighing into a debate surrounding the trial of Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, Madonna added her voice to a number of other Western musicians, bolstering accusations by President Vladimir Putin's foes that the legal proceedings are politically motivated and a part of a wider crackdown on dissent.

'Pussy Riot' sing a song at the Lobnoye Mesto, in Red Square in Moscow in January Credit: Reuters

The trio are on trial for storming the altar of Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral on 21st February and belting out a profanity-laced "punk prayer" calling on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin. Their stunt infuriated church leaders and the Kremlin. Madonna, however, spoke out against the proceedings, telling Reuters:

I'm against censorship, and (throughout) my whole career I've always promoted freedom of expression, freedom of speech. So obviously, I think what's happening to them (Pussy Riot) is unfair. And I hope that they do not have to serve seven years in jail, that would be a tragedy.

I think art should be political. I think art through history, historically speaking, art always reflects what's going on socially. So for me it's hard to separate the idea of being an artist and being political.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alyokhina, attend their trial in a court in Moscow in August Credit: Reuters

Madonna joins a number of Western governments, human rights groups and performers such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers who have criticised the prosecution of the women.

Labour MP Kerry McCarthy has been in court for the Pussy Riot trial and tweeting the proceedings as they happen: